diff --git a/network-go/iptables/iptables.go b/network-go/iptables/iptables.go
index 5289b50..ea52680 100644
--- a/network-go/iptables/iptables.go
+++ b/network-go/iptables/iptables.go
@@ -279,6 +279,13 @@ func (m *Manager) InsertPreroutingRule(sourceIP, proto, sourcePort, targetIP, ta
 	logger.Info("IPTABLES: checking PREROUTING DNAT rule: src=%s proto=%s sport=%s -> dst=%s dport=%s comment=%q",
 		sourceIP, proto, sourcePort, targetIP, targetPort, comment)
 
+	// Validate source and destination networks are defined
+	if sourceIP == "" || targetIP == "" {
+		logger.Warn("IPTABLES: PREROUTING DNAT rule skipped — source=%q or destination=%q network not defined (comment=%q)",
+			sourceIP, targetIP, comment)
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	// Idempotent: check if rule already exists
 	existing := m.getLineNumbers("PREROUTING", "nat", comment, "DNAT", targetIP, targetPort)
 	if len(existing) > 0 {
@@ -304,6 +311,12 @@ func (m *Manager) InsertPreroutingRuleOnInterface(iface, proto, sourcePort, targ
 	logger.Info("IPTABLES: checking PREROUTING DNAT rule on interface %s: proto=%s dport=%s -> %s:%s comment=%q",
 		iface, proto, sourcePort, targetIP, targetPort, comment)
 
+	// Validate destination network is defined
+	if targetIP == "" {
+		logger.Warn("IPTABLES: PREROUTING DNAT rule on %s skipped — destination network not defined (comment=%q)", iface, comment)
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	// Check if rule already exists (idempotent: don't re-apply)
 	// Must include port in check to distinguish port 80 from port 443 rules with same comment
 	existing := m.getLineNumbers("PREROUTING", "nat", comment, "DNAT", targetIP, targetPort)
@@ -330,6 +343,12 @@ func (m *Manager) InsertPostroutingMasquerade(destCIDR, proto, destPort, comment
 	logger.Info("IPTABLES: checking POSTROUTING MASQUERADE rule: dst=%s proto=%s dport=%s comment=%q",
 		destCIDR, proto, destPort, comment)
 
+	// Validate destination network is defined
+	if destCIDR == "" {
+		logger.Warn("IPTABLES: POSTROUTING MASQUERADE rule skipped — destination network not defined (comment=%q)", comment)
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	// Check if rule already exists (idempotent: don't re-apply)
 	// Must include port in check to distinguish port 80 from port 443 rules with same comment
 	existing := m.getLineNumbers("POSTROUTING", "nat", comment, "MASQUERADE", destCIDR, destPort)
@@ -356,6 +375,12 @@ func (m *Manager) InsertPostroutingMasqueradeForTarget(targetCIDR, proto, target
 	logger.Info("IPTABLES: checking POSTROUTING MASQUERADE rule for target: dst=%s proto=%s dport=%s comment=%q",
 		targetCIDR, proto, targetPort, comment)
 
+	// Validate destination network is defined
+	if targetCIDR == "" {
+		logger.Warn("IPTABLES: POSTROUTING MASQUERADE for target skipped — destination network not defined (comment=%q)", comment)
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	// Idempotent: check if rule already exists
 	// Must include port in check to distinguish port 80 from port 443 rules with same comment
 	existing := m.getLineNumbers("POSTROUTING", "nat", comment, "MASQUERADE", targetCIDR, targetPort)
@@ -382,6 +407,13 @@ func (m *Manager) InsertForwardAccept(chain, sourceIP, targetIP, proto, sourcePo
 	logger.Info("IPTABLES: checking FORWARD ACCEPT rule: chain=%s src=%s dst=%s proto=%s sport=%s dport=%s comment=%q",
 		chain, sourceIP, targetIP, proto, sourcePort, targetPort, comment)
 
+	// Validate source and destination networks are defined
+	if sourceIP == "" || targetIP == "" {
+		logger.Warn("IPTABLES: FORWARD ACCEPT rule skipped in %s — source=%q or destination=%q network not defined (comment=%q)",
+			chain, sourceIP, targetIP, comment)
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	// Idempotent: check if rule already exists
 	var grepPatterns []string
 	grepPatterns = append(grepPatterns, comment, proto)